Systems and methods for drive-up condominiums and commercial units

ABSTRACT

Systems and method for drive-up condominiums and commercial units are provided. In one embodiment, a multi-level building structure allows for parking vehicles adjacent to upper level occupancy units, wherein the upper level occupancy units may be condominium units or commercial units. The multi-level building structure may include occupancy units along the perimeter or interior of the level, which may allow vehicles to be driven from ground level to any desired level of the multi-level structure and park adjacent to the occupancy unit.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.63/093,715 filed Oct. 19, 2020, which is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosed embodiments relates generally to residential andcommercial property. More particularly, some embodiments of theinvention relate to multi-level building structures that allow forvehicles to park adjacent to ingress and egress portals of residentialand commercial units on various levels of a multi-level buildingstructure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

Multi-level building structures containing residential units, commercialunits, and/or similar are found through large, medium, and small citiesall over the world. In general, these multi-level building structureshave vehicle parking underneath the structure, in a nearby parkinggarage, parking ramp, parkade, parking building, parking deck, or on anearby street. Access to these multi-level building structures is thenlimited by a vehicle operator's ability to both find a parking stallsomewhat close to their desired destination, and also within theirability to reach the destination. The possible distance between parkingoptions and an individual's desired commercial or residential unit, maymake reaching the desired unit difficult for those with children, thosewho are disabled, those who live in harsh climates, those withsignificant parcels to carry between their vehicle and place ofoccupancy, and similar units.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

According to one or more embodiments of the invention, various featuresand functionality can be provided toward devices and method forproviding multi-level, drive-up building structures suitable to providecommercial and residential units, with internal, drive-up parkingadjacent to the occupancy unit, and direct occupant access. Suchstructures can be configured to allow commercial and residential unitsto occupy the exterior of the structure while confining some, much, orall of the owner and tenant parking to locations that are internal tothe structure and on the same level or levels and the commercial orresidential units. Accordingly, the commercial and residential units arelocated so as to be outward facing and may benefit from natural lightand airflow, while the parking structure may be provided internally suchthat they are hidden or enclosed out of view, yet still provide parkinglocations adjacent to ingress and egress portals for their respectiveunits.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One or more various embodiments are described in detail with referenceto the following figures. The drawings are provided for purposes ofillustration only and merely depict typical or example embodiments ofthe invention. These drawings are provided to facilitate the reader'sunderstanding of the invention and shall not be considered limiting ofthe breadth, scope, or applicability of the invention. It should benoted that for clarity.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a multi-level building structure according toan exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept.

FIG. 2 is an elevation view of a multi-level building structureaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept.

FIG. 3 is another elevation view of a multi-level building structureaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept.

FIG. 4 is an interior view of an upper level of a multi-level buildingstructure according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventiveconcept.

FIG. 5 is another interior view of an upper level of a multi-levelbuilding structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinventive concept.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a multi-level building structure on a bridgeaccording to exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept.

The figures are not intend to be exhaustive or to limit the invention tothe precise form disclosed. It should be understood that the inventioncan be practiced with modification and alternation, and that theinvention be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Various embodiments described herein are directed toward structures andmethods for providing multi-level, drive-up building structures suitableto provide commercial and residential units with internal, or external,drive-up parking and direct occupant access to the ingress or egressportals of the commercial and residential units. Such structures can beconfigured to allow for commercial and residential units to occupy theexterior or interior of the structure while confining some, much, or allof the owner or tenant parking to locations that are internal to thestructure and on the same level or levels as ingress and egress portalsof the commercial and residential units. The structure further allowsfor occupants to travel from one commercial or residential unit toanother commercial or residential unit along the interior of thebuilding structure. Accordingly, the commercial and residential unitsmay be located so that they are outward facing and may benefit fromnatural light and airflow, while the parking stalls may be providedinternally such that they are hidden or enclosed out of view. Examplesof residential units may include, for example, condominiums, apartments,cooperatives, townhouses and other residential properties. Ingress andegress portals may include one or more doors through which residents,proprietors, guests and other personnel enter and exit the respectiveunits.

Embodiments of the disclosed invention may include a multitude oflevels, including: ground level, upper levels, and below-ground levels.In some embodiments, the structure may have a single ground level and asingle upper level. In some embodiments, the structure may have a singleground level and multiple upper levels. In some embodiments, thestructure may also contain one or more below-ground levels. In someembodiments, the structure may include any combination thereof.

In some embodiments, the structure includes a ground level 206. A groundlevel can also be defined as a street level, surface level, first floor,garden level, lobby, first story, street floor, ground deck, first deck,lobby deck, entrance level, first stage, first tier, and/or similar. Insome embodiments, the ground floor provides access without a ramp tooccupancy units and road surfaces contained on the ground floor. Theground floor further acts as one of several possible access points forthe structure. An access point being a place of entry from a publicroad, sidewalk, street, and/or similar to the multi-level structure.

In some embodiments, the structure includes one or more upper levels104. An upper level is any level that is above the ground level. Upperlevels can be considered to be second floors, third floors, etc., andfurther be considered elevated stories, above-ground levels, upperfloors, upper decks, and/or similar. In some embodiments, the upperlevels may contain occupancy units 102, road surfaces 112, ramps 110,sidewalks 510 and/or similar. The upper levels may be accessed via aramp 110, as described below.

In some embodiments, the structure may include one or more below-groundlevels. A below-ground level is any level that is below the groundlevel. Below-ground levels can also be considered basements, lowerfloors, lower levels, lower decks, underground parking, undergroundfloors, underground levels, cellars, undercrofts, vaults, crypts,sub-basements, substructures, understructure, and/or similar. In someembodiments, the below-ground level is used solely for parking. In someembodiments, the below-ground level includes air handlings systems thatremove exhaust and carbon monoxide from interior units, and the interiorof the structure, and replace it with filtered or fresh air. The airhandling systems are not limited to placement in below-ground levels andmay be placed at any location within the structure. In some embodiments,the below-ground level includes commercial units or residential space.Embodiments can include any variety of the aforementioned uses ofbelow-ground space.

In some embodiments, each level of the structure is considered a rigiddeck or floor. A rigid deck may be made, for example, from pre-castreinforced concrete, cast-in-place reinforced concrete, or otherconstruction materials, and is generally rigid enough and otherwisesuitable to handle the anticipated loading from vehicles, pedestrians,commercial equipment and other objects it is intended to support.

In general, drive-up is considered to be the process of entering astructure with a vehicle, operating the vehicle to the desired level,and then “driving-up” to a desired residential or commercial unit. Thenotion of a drive-up structure is encompassed by one's ability tooperate a vehicle and park said vehicle within the structure in such away that the driver is adjacent 202 or nearly adjacent to theresidential or commercial unit they desire to enter.

In various embodiments, multi-level drive-up structures can beconfigured in a variety of different shapes and sizes, and may includevarious dedicated or mixed-use units. Structures generally, includeoccupancy units, ramps, road surfaces, landscaping, utilities, open airunits, and/or similar.

Commercial and residential units may be any of various types ofcommercial and residential units whether owner or tenant occupied orotherwise. Commercial and residential units may collectively be referredto as occupancy units. In some embodiments, commercial units may includeretail units, corporate units, office units, business units, industrialunits, service units, medical units, professional units and/or similar.The term commercial units may be defined as to include commercial units,commercial offices, commercial suites and other similar units. In thisexample, the commercial units may occupy ground levels 206 of themulti-level structure or may occupy any or all upper levels orbelow-ground levels of the multi-level structure. For example,commercial units may occupy one or more below-ground, at ground, orabove ground levels. In some embodiments, the commercial units may beaccessible from the exterior of the structure, the interior of thestructure, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the commercialunits may be segregated from the residential units. In some embodiments,the commercial units may be intermixed with the residential units on oneor more levels. In some embodiments, commercial units may be permitted agreater number of parking areas in the structure, because commercialunits may require a greater number of parking per square foot thanresidential units. In some embodiments, additional visitor parking maybe provided either external to the structure, internal to the structure,or below the structure. Visitor parking may also be drive-up parkingadjacent the visited unit, or it may be spatially removed from visitedunit.

In some embodiments, residential units may include condominiums,apartments, townhomes, residential communities, communes, co-ops,single-family homes, multi-family homes, tiny homes, campgrounds,recreational vehicle sites, bungalows, cabins, sheds, residentialrentals, vacation homes, VRBOs and AirBNBs, other vacation rentalproperties, and other similar units. In some embodiments, theresidential units may occupy ground levels or the multi-level structureor may occupy any or all upper levels or below-ground levels of themulti-level structure. For example, residential units may occupy one ormore below-ground, ground, or above ground levels. In some embodiments,the residential units may be accessible from the exterior of thestructure, the interior of the structure, or a combination thereof. Insome embodiments, residential units may be open to the outside of thestructure, such as on an open air rooftop, where in other embodimentsthe residential units me be entirely internal to the structure. In someembodiments, the residential units have both external and internalaspects, allowing for occupants of the space to use the spaceexternally, internally, or a combination thereof. In some embodimentsthe residential units may have windows or doors that face the interiorof the structure.

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, residential units may include a patio space orthe rooftop of the structure. The structure may include sharedpatio/congregation units 308 or private units that may be reserved,assigned, or deeded to a residential space. In some embodiments, thesepatio or rooftop units 308 may be accessible from the internal parkingstalls, from within a corresponding unit, or from other public areas. Insome embodiments, these patios and rooftop units may include pergolas orpatio covers 308. In some embodiments, these units may includephotovoltaic, solar thermal, solar, or similar solar panel system thatcan capture energy from the sun to be converted into electricity thatcan be used by occupants of the structure or sold to connected powergrids. In some embodiments, the HVAC systems associated with thestructure may be placed on these outdoor areas, whereas in otherembodiments the HVAC systems, or portions thereof, may containedinternally to the structure. In some embodiments, these outdoor unitsmay include rooftop pools, spas, or other recreational amenities.

Various embodiments may include air handling systems that providessufficient airflow to vent exhaust gasses (e.g., carbon monoxide) out ofthe structure. In such embodiments, the air handling may be sufficientventing to allow for units to have interior windows into the structure.In some embodiments, the interior facing windows may be on one or morefloors of an occupancy unit.

Various embodiments may also include solotube or similar structures thatallow for natural light to enter the structure. In some embodiments, theplacement of the occupancy units allows for natural light to enter thestructure. In some embodiments, the interior roofs of the structure haveopenings that allow natural light to enter the structure, and allow fornatural airflow and ventilation.

The terms commercial units and residential units can be generallyconsidered occupancy units or enclosures within the multi-level buildingstructure. In some embodiments, occupancy units within the multi-levelbuilding structure can be arranged around some, most, or all of theperiphery of each level of the structure, with road surfaces occupyinginterior 406 areas within each level of the structure. In someembodiments, the interior of the structure may include residentialfeatures that look and feel like a residential street. For example, theresidential features of the interior of the multi-level buildingstructure may include roads, sidewalks, plants, landscaping, irrigationssystems, air handling systems, streetlamps, road signs, mailboxes, dogparks, trash receptacles, artificial or natural lighting, and/similarattributes found in an outdoor residential neighborhood. In someembodiments, occupancy units within the multi-level building structurecan be arranged around the interior of the structure, with road surfacesoccupying the exterior of the structure. In some embodiments, when theoccupancy units occupy the interior of the structure, the exterior areawill include residential features that look and feel like a residentialneighborhood, as described above. In other embodiments, occupancy unitscan be placed in any combination of exterior and interior placements,and road surfaces can occupy any combination of exterior and interiorplacements. In some embodiments, occupancy units may have windows,doors, and/or ingress/egress points into the interior of the structure.For example, a condominium on an upper level may have a door that leadsdirectly to the condominium's internal parking stall 504. In anotherembodiment, the occupancy units may have windows, doors, and/or similaringress/egress points to the exterior of the structure. For example, acommercial space may have a helicopter port on the roof of the structurethat can be directly accessed from the occupancy units by way of anexternal door.

In various embodiments, the structure may include road surfaces 406throughout the structure. A road surface may be a street, road, roadway,alley, drive-way, access-way, byway, byroad, path, passage,thoroughfare, bridleway, trail, track, and/or similar. In someembodiments, the road surfaces may be internally surrounded by occupancyunits, where each occupancy unit has access to the internal road surface406 for eventual ingress/egress of the structure. The road surfaces mayalso be used for internal transportation 506, for example in FIGS. 4-5,to travel from one occupancy unit to another occupancy unit within thesame structure. In some embodiments, the road surface attaches to a rampthat allows for ascending and descending the structure.

In various embodiments, the occupancy units may be multi-leveled. Forexample, in FIGS. 4 and 5, the residential units have ingress and egressportals on a second floor of the occupancy unit while the entireoccupancy unit is maintained on a single floor of the multi-levelbuilding structure. In some embodiments, the occupancy units may occupya single level of the structure. In some embodiments, the occupancyunits may occupy multiple levels of the structure.

Referring to FIG. 1-2, the structure may include ramp structure, whichmay include one or more ramps. Ramps may include exterior ramps and/orinterior ramps. Ramps are generally used for occupants of the structureto ascend from one level of the structure to an above level of thestructure, or descend within the structure from one level in thestructure to a lower level in the structure. In some embodiment, theramps are connected to the interior road surface and allow for occupantsto travel from one level of the structure to another. In someembodiments, the ramps connect public or exterior roads to interior roadsurfaces of the structure.

In some embodiments of the invention, exterior ramps may be used. Forexample, in FIG. 1, a circular or “doughnut” style ramp 110 may beincluded at a corner of the structure (or elsewhere along the structure)to allow access to the multiple levels of the structure. Circular styleramps allow for a vehicle to enter the ramp at a lower level and operatetheir vehicle along a constant, or minorly varying, rotation clockwise,or counter-clockwise, in the ascending or descending direction to reacha level either above or below their initial starting level. In anotherexample, a vehicle operator may begin on ground level and enter themulti-level structure via a circular style ramp to reach a desired upperlevel or below level in the multi-level structure. In another example, avehicle operator may enter the circular style ramp from an upper levelof the multi-level structure and ascend the structure to another upperlevel, descend the structure to a lower level, or descend the structureto ground level and proceed to exit the multi-level structure. In someembodiments, the occupant may descent the ramp structure to abelow-ground level of the structure.

In some embodiments, the circular style ramp 110 may include roadsurfaces for ascending and descending the ramp, vertical or angledbarriers 108 for keeping vehicles within the ramp and keeping unwantedmatter (e.g., debris, dust, leaves, rain, snow, etc.) off of the roadsurface within the ramp, painted lines to guide the vehicle operators,angled road surfaces to assist ascending and descending vehicles withtraction between the vehicle and the road surface, and an interiorstructural component that may be a cylinder or similar for which theramp will rotate around. In some embodiments, the center of the circularramp may be free from structural components and open to the air. An openair ramp structure can assist with airflow and act as a source ofnatural light for within the interior of the structure.

In some embodiments the circular ramp 110 may be made from concrete,metal, plastic, wood, or any combination thereof. In furtherembodiments, the road surface may be paved with tar, asphalt, concrete,or other commonly known road surfaces. In further embodiments, the roadsurface may angled from zero to forty-five degrees. In furtherembodiments, the radius of the circular ramp may range from eight tofifty feet.

While the circular style ramp 110 provides a compact footprint, in someembodiments, other ramp styles may be used. In some embodiments, aninternal ramp may be used as opposed to this example exterior ramp.There are many examples of interior ramps. For example, an inclined roadsurface that includes a road surface, barriers, painted lines,structural components, and/or similar may be placed throughout themulti-level structure to allow for vehicle operators to ascend ordescend levels of the structure. In some embodiments, the interior rampmay include a raised end connected to an upper level and a lower endconnected to a ground level or an upper level occupying space beneaththe desired upper level. In this embodiment, a vehicle operator coulddrive from the road surface disposed on a level, enter the interiorramp, proceed to ascend or descend (go up or down) the angled roadsurface, and then exit the interior ramp onto the end desired level.This example of an interior ramp may allow for vehicle operators toascend or descent a single or multiple levels within the structure.

In other embodiments, multiple ramps may be provided that includemultiple exterior ramps, multiple interior ramps, or a combinationthereof.

Parking areas are generally considered locations where an occupant isable to park their vehicle and where a plurality of parking stalls orother parking spaces are contained. Parking areas may be interior to thestructure or exterior.

Parking stalls are generally considered as places where a vehicle can bebrought to a halt and left temporarily, this typically takes place in aparking lot, parking garage, carport and/or similar. In someembodiments, the multi-level structure includes various types of parkingstalls and parking areas, including internal parking stalls, externalparking stalls, and more generally adjacent parking stalls.

In reference to FIGS. 1-4, parking stalls may be disposed adjacent tooccupancy units. Parking stalls include both internal parking stalls 402and external parking stalls 304. Parking stalls may be a discrete areaof space disposed on the level and used for stopping a vehicle for atemporary period of time.

In some embodiments, internal parking areas with parking stalls arepresent 502. Such internal parking stalls can exist on below-groundlevels, ground levels, and/or upper levels. For example, internalparking on ground and above-ground levels is typically surrounded byoccupancy units, with interspersed access to airflow and natural light.In some embodiments, internal parking stalls are accessed via ramps andexist throughout the structure such that vehicle operators are able topark at an internal stall near a desired occupancy unit on any level ofthe multi-level structure. In some examples, occupancy units aresingle-story and have associated internal parking stalls that can bereached by the structure level directly at surface level or by stairsfrom the surface level 404. In other embodiments, the occupancy unitsare multi-story. In some embodiments, the occupancy units may haveinternal stairs to reach an ingress/egress portal of the occupancy unitfrom their parking stall 512.

In some embodiments, external parking stalls are present. Such externalparking stalls can exist on ground levels and/or upper levels. Externalparking stalls can be disposed around occupancy units to allow forinternal occupancy units to have adjacent parking. External parkingstalls can also permit airflow and natural light to enter the structureand they may be enclosed, exposed, or any combination thereof.

In some embodiments, both internal 402 and external parking stalls 202,collectively parking stalls, may be adjacent to occupancy units, andparticularly adjacent ingress or egress portals of the occupancy units204. Parking stalls on upper levels may be adjacent to occupancy unitsproceeding ramps to access the upper levels. This would allow forvehicle operators to park their vehicle next to 304, in front 302 of orbehind a desired occupancy unit. Occupancy units may have parking stallsassigned, deeded, or permitted to them, or parking stalls may begenerally available to occupants of the structure. In some embodiments,parking stalls range from six to twelve feet in width, and from eight toforty feet in length. In some embodiments, occupancy units may haveparking stalls in the form of enclosed garages with a garage door 302,covered carports, and/or open parking. The adjacent parking stalls mayprovide ingress/egress points for each occupancy unit. Providingdedicated or shared parking at each level of the structure (or at leastat levels where occupancy unit ingress/egress is provided for humanoccupants or visitors, however, the term occupant is not limited tohumans) provides for a drive-up structure that allows occupants andvisitors to drive directly to an desired occupancy unit and park outsidethe include, thus reducing the need for occupants and visitors to travelfrom their vehicle to their desired occupancy unit.

An occupant of the structure may include owners of occupancy unitswithin the structure, renters of occupancy units within the structure,tenants of occupancy units within the structure, and both residentialand commercial visitors to the structure.

Various embodiments may be implemented to enable owners, occupants, andvisitors to drive their vehicles directly their desired occupancy unitsand park immediately outside of the occupancy unit 404 regardless of thelevel their occupancy unit occupies. This can allow direct access to theunit from the vehicle regardless of the floor on which the occupancyunit occupies. Accordingly, occupants are not required to use elevators,long hallways, lobbies, or other like means to carry parcels betweentheir occupancy units and vehicles. This also permits easier access tooccupancy units for those with movement challenges, thus making theoccupancy units more accessible to all persons. Some conventionalstructures utilize separate elevators from the underground parking tothe ground level and from the ground level to the occupancy unit floorsor upper levels. These conventional structures may require an occupantto take multiple elevators to travel between their occupancy unit andtheir vehicle. Further, these traditional structures may hinder accessto an occupancy unit for a person with difficulty moving. Thisinconvenience may be ameliorated or eliminated with embodiments thatutilize the drive-up approach such as the disclosed embodiments. Theelimination of elevators may have benefits for residents concerned aboutnumerous pathogens, viruses, bacteria, fungi, and other infectiousdiseases, including SARS-CoV-2 (or COVID-19). Particularly, embodimentsmay eliminate or lessen the chances of meeting strangers in confinedunits such as elevators.

In some embodiments, the parking stalls 202 may be directly connected tothe unit, and provide access to the unit through a single or multipledoors. In other embodiments the parking stalls may be at a range of oneto forty feet from its associated unit, and may be accessed by walkingthrough the interior or exterior of the structure, along sidewalks orroad surfaces, and may further require passing through one or multipledoors.

In some embodiments, there may be one or more access points 106 to thestructure. An access point may be an opening in the ground level of thestructure that allows for ingress/egress from a public road surface tothe structure. In some embodiments, there are only access points on theground level, but in other embodiments access points may exist onmultiple levels. For example, if the structure was built on the side ofa hill there may be access points on the ground level on one side of thestructure and access points on upper levels on the side of the structurefacing the inclined portion of the hill. In other embodiments, an accesspoint could be placed on the roof to allow a helicopter to land andpermit occupants to enter the structure through the rooftop.

In reference to FIG. 5, the structure may contain landscaping such astrees, bushes, grass, sculptures, pathways, steps, benches, chairs,other plants, and/or similar 508.

In reference to FIG. 6, the multi-level structure could occupy space ontop 602, within, or beneath a bridge 604. In such embodiments, occupancyunits would be able to view the surrounding area unimpeded due to theopen air nature of bridge placement. Further, embodiments such as thiscould reduce traffic at bottlenecks (where lots of vehicles have to passthrough a small area), because it would allow for many vehicle operatorsto exit at the bottleneck to arrive at their occupancy unit.

In some embodiments, the multi-level structures may exist alongsideother, similar multi-level structures to allow for groupings ofmulti-level structures to cohabit a given property. This may beappealing to real estate investors, construction companies, suretycompanies, and/or similar who could group their financing anddevelopment efforts into a single location.

Embodiments may also reduce or eliminate the amount of undergroundparking required. This can result in cost savings for construction andmay also be more attractive to consumers. Safety of the residents may beenhanced as well because embodiments may be implemented in whichresidents need not utilize an underground parking structure, which maybe isolated, and at an increased risk of structural failure, flood, poorventilation, crime, excessive heat or cold, and/or similar. Instead,occupants may be able to park in their own garage or parking stallattached or adjacent to their occupancy unit, where their occupancy unitmay be surrounded by neighboring occupancy units with other occupantsnearby.

While various embodiments have been described above, it should beunderstood that they have been presented by way of example only, and notof limitation. Likewise, the various diagrams may depict an examplearchitectural or other configuration for the invention, which is done toaid in understanding the features and functionality that can be includedin the invention. The invention is not restricted to the illustratedexample architectures or configurations, but the desired features can beimplemented using a variety of alternative architectures andconfigurations. Indeed, it will be apparent to one of skill in the arthow alternative functional, logical or physical partitioning andconfigurations can be implemented to implement the desired features ofthe disclosed embodiments. Also, a multitude of different constituentmodule names other than those depicted herein can be applied to thevarious partitions. Additionally, with regard to flow diagrams,operational descriptions and method claims, the order in which the stepsare presented herein shall not mandate that various embodiments beimplemented to perform the recited functionality in the same orderunless the context dictates otherwise.

Although the invention is described above in terms of various exemplaryembodiments and implementations, it should be understood that thevarious features, aspects and functionality described in one or more ofthe individual embodiments are not limited in their applicability to theparticular embodiment with which they are described, but instead can beapplied, alone or in some combination, to one or more of the otherembodiments of the invention, whether or not such embodiments aredescribed and whether or not such features are presented as being a partof a described embodiment. Thus the breadth and scope of the disclosedembodiments should not be limited by any of the above-describedexemplary embodiments.

As used herein, the articles “a” or “an” when referring to an item arenot limited to requiring one and only one of the referenced item, andthe various embodiments can include additional of the referenced items(or an alternative item) unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.Terms and phrases used in this document, and variations thereof, unlessotherwise expressly stated, should be construed as open ended as opposedto limiting. As examples of the foregoing: the term “including” shouldbe read as mean “including, without limitation” or the like; the term“example” is used to provide exemplary instances of the item indiscussion, not an exhaustive or limiting list thereof; and adjectivessuch as “conventional,” “traditional,” “normal,” “standard,” “known” andterms of similar meaning should not be construed as limiting the itemdescribed to a given time period or to an item available as of a giventime, but instead should be read to encompass conventional, traditional,normal, or standard technologies that may be available or known now orat any time in the future. Likewise, where this document refers totechnologies that would be apparent or known to one of ordinary skill inthe art, such technologies encompass those apparent or known to theskilled artisan now or at any time in the future.

The presence of broadening words and phrases such as “one or more,” “atleast,” “but not limited to” or other like phrases in some instancesshall not be read to mean that the narrower case is intended or requiredin instances where such broadening phrases may be absent. The use of theterms “module” and “appliance” or the depiction of a box in a diagramdoes not imply that the components or functionality described or claimedas part of that item are all configured in a common package. Indeed, anyor all of the various components of an item, whether control logic orother components, can be combined in a single package or separatelymaintained and can further be distributed across multiple locations.Likewise, multiple items can be combined into single packages orlocations.

Additionally, the various embodiments set forth herein are described interms of exemplary block diagrams, flow charts and other illustrations.As will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art afterreading this document, the illustrated embodiments and their variousalternatives can be implemented without confinement to the illustratedexamples. For example, block diagrams and their accompanying descriptionshould not be construed as mandating a particular architecture orconfiguration.

What is claimed is:
 1. A multi-level building structure for parkingvehicles adjacent upper level occupancy units, comprising: a rampstructure; a plurality of floors connected by the ramp structure, eachfloor comprising; a rigid deck; a plurality of occupancy unitsperipherally located on an exterior portion of the rigid deck forming aninterior parking area at least partially surrounded by occupancy units,wherein the plurality of occupancy units comprise windows facing outwardfrom the multi-level building structure and an access point facing theinterior parking area; a plurality of parking stalls on the rigid deckwithin the interior parking area, each parking stall adjacent to aningress/egress portal of a respective occupancy unit; and an interiorroad surface within the interior parking area connecting a plurality ofthe parking stalls to the ramp structure; and a plurality of airhandling systems to circulate fresh air through the plurality of floors;wherein the ramps, interior road surface and parking stalls areconfigured for vehicular travel to a determined parking stall adjacentits respective occupancy unit.
 2. The multi-level building structure ofclaim 1, wherein the occupancy units comprise residential units,commercial units, or a combination thereof.
 3. The multi-level buildingstructure of claim 1, wherein the parking stalls include parking spaces,garages, carports, or a combination thereof.
 4. The multi-level buildingstructure of claim 1, wherein the ramps are circular or straight.
 5. Themulti-level building structure of claim 1, wherein the parking stallsform an inner periphery to the occupancy units.
 6. The multi-levelbuilding structure of claim 1, wherein the interior road surface is anopen area within the peripheral parking stalls.
 7. The multi-levelbuilding structure of claim 1, wherein the parking stalls and parkinggarages further comprise adjacent patios and pergolas.
 8. Themulti-level building structure of claim 1, wherein the occupancy unitsfurther comprise windows facing the interior parking area.
 9. Themulti-level building structure of claim 1, wherein the occupancy unitsfurther comprise balconies that face the interior parking area.
 10. Themulti-level building structure of claim 1, wherein the interior parkingarea further comprises a plurality of walkways and residential featuresconnecting occupancy units.
 10. The multi-level building structure ofclaim 1, wherein a plurality of access points position to couple theroad surfaces to an external road surface and enable vehicles to enterthe structure and ascend upon the ramp structure to a determined deck.11. A multi-level structure for parking vehicles adjacent upper leveloccupancy units, comprising: a plurality of rigid decks arranged in astacked configuration, each rigid deck comprising a plurality ofoccupancy units disposed thereon, wherein, occupancy units of theplurality of occupancy units are configured as a residential unit or acommercial unit and are disposed on an outer perimeter of a rigid deck;a plurality of parking stalls disposed on the rigid decks adjacent theirrespective occupancy units wherein, each parking stall is configuredwith a discrete space in which to park a vehicle; a road surfacedisposed on each rigid deck, wherein the road surface is positioned torun adjacent the parking stalls and a ramp structure providing vehicleaccess to the plurality of rigid decks; and access points positioned tocouple the road surfaces to an external road surface and enable vehiclesto enter the structure and ascend upon the ramp structure to adetermined deck.
 12. The multi-level structure of claim 11, wherein theroad surface is disposed between the occupancy units on each deck. 13.The multi-level structure of claim 11, wherein the parking stall isdisposed on the deck and adjacent to the occupancy unit and interiorroad surface.
 14. The multi-level structure of claim 11, wherein eachoccupancy unit further comprise at least one parking stall.
 15. Themulti-level structure of claim 1, wherein the ramps connect the decks.16. The multi-level structure of claim 11, wherein the ramps areadjacent to the road surface.
 17. The multi-level structure of claim 11,wherein a vehicle can access the structure via the access point.
 18. Themulti-level structure of claim 11, wherein each occupancy unit isaccessible via the road surface.
 19. The structure of claim 11, whereineach occupancy unit further comprises at least one assigned parkingstall adjacent or nearly adjacent to their occupancy unit.
 20. A methodof using a multi-level structure for parking vehicles near upper leveloccupancy units, comprising: arriving at the structure in a vehicle;entering the structure at a lowest level or ground level through anaccess point; operating the vehicle on top of a ramp to a desired rigiddeck; exiting the ramp on the desired deck, onto the desired deck'scorresponding road surface; operating the vehicle on top of the roadsurface until reaching a desired occupancy unit; parking the vehicle inan occupancy unit's adjacent parking stall; and entering the occupancyunit.